Montreal Impact – Sporting Kansas City
Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - 7pm (ET)
Stade Saputo
Broadcast: TSN, RDS, CJAD 800
Also available on: illico web
MONTREAL, Quebec – Following a charged month of June, the Montreal Impact (5-10-3) kicks off a stretch of seven games in the month July, five of which are set at home, versus Sporting Kansas City (9-5-2) on Wednesday, at Stade Saputo, exceptionally at 7pm (ET). Individual tickets are still available for the game, via impactmontreal.com, or by calling 514-328-3668.
Preview: MTL vs KC
Notes and Quotes
This will be the second matchup of the season for these two clubs. The Impact won the first match 2-0 on May 5 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Midfielders Felipe and Patrice Bernier had scored, earning the Impact its first road win of the season.
IMPORTANT: Please note that kick-off is scheduled at 7pm ET, and not at 7:30pm as indicated on your season ticket
Montreal will try to end a two-game losing streak, after consecutive 3-0 losses against Toronto, at home last Wednesday, and versus D.C. United last Saturday in Washington. The Impact will be playing the first home game of the second half of the season and will be looking to improve its home record of 4-2-2.
KC has not won in its last five games away from home and is coming off two consecutive losses in regular season play. The first was a 4-0 shutout loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Union on June 23, with Kansas City now 3-3-2 on the road. In its last matchup, the team lost 1-0 at home to the Chicago Fire.
“Kansas City is in a similar situation as we are,” noted Impact head coach Jesse Marsch. “They have lost two games not in a good fashion and have played a lot of games, and in the heat. They are going to put a lot into this game, and be ready to compete, as they always are. They are really good on set pieces. It’s going to be a battle.”
Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier, who leads the team with five assists, will be available after serving a one-game suspension, following a yellow card for a reckless challenge against Toronto. He is tied for sixth place amongst MLS playmakers.
“They are strong and physical team,” said Patrice Bernier. “They have really good offensive players and rely on crosses for their big, strong forwards. We have to have the same mentality we did when we went to KC and shut them out if we are to be successful.”
“It’s going to be a hard fought game,” said Zarek Valentin. “We have to come out guns blazing and outwork them. As a team, we all have to be ready to outwork KC as they always bring it. They are a very good team, so we need to battle out butts off.”
In the last game, against D.C. United, Impact Brazilian midfielder Felipe ended a long streak of 1,575 consecutive minutes of play with the Impact. He has tallied three goals and four assists so far this season.
Defenders Matteo Ferrari and Nelson Rivas, as well as forwards Bernardo Corradi and Andrew Wenger will all miss the game due to injuries.
Before joining the Impact via trade in November, team captain Davy Arnaud, who has three goals and three assists this year, played 240 games in 10 seasons with Kansas City. Defender Shavar Thomas was also a member of Kansas City, playing a total of 76 games with the club between 2004 and 2006 and 19 games in 2010 and 2011, while Tyson Wahl spent the earlier part of his MLS career in Kansas City, playing in 32 games from 2006 to 2008 before joining the Seattle Sounders.
Sporting Kansas City, which is third in the Eastern Conference, is the second stingiest team in the league having allowed only 16 goals in as many games played this season and has shut out its opponent six times this season.
Despite a strong defensive record they are no slouches offensively. SKC leads the MLS in corner kicks this season with 105. The attacking pair of Kei Kamara (who also leads the league with 28 shots on goal, second with 65 total shots) and CJ Sapong, have five goals apiece, while midfielder Graham Zusi has eight assists (second in MLS), and is the only field player to have played in every game for SKC this season with captain and goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen.
Forward Teal Bunbury was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and played for the Canadian National U17 and U20 teams before representing the United States at the senior level.
SKC veteran Bobby Convey (calf strain) was expected to be available for the first time since May 19, but should not make the trip to Montreal.
Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier, who leads the team with five assists, will be available after serving a one-game suspension, following a yellow card for a reckless challenge against Toronto. Defenders Matteo Ferrari and Nelson Rivas, as well as forwards Bernardo Corradi and Andrew Wenger will all miss the game due to injuries.
Before joining the Impact via trade in November, team captain Davy Arnaud played 240 games in 10 seasons with Kansas City. Defender Shavar Thomas was also a member of Kansas City, playing a total of 76 games with the club between 2004 and 2006 and 19 games in 2010 and 2011, while Tyson Wahl spent the earlier part of his MLS career in Kansas City, playing in 32 games from 2006 to 2008 before joining the Seattle Sounders.
Upcoming match
The Impact will play a second consecutive game at Stade Saputo, against the Columbus Crew on Sunday, at 7:30pm (ET). Group packages, as well as 3 or 6 game partial plans available for the 2012 season by calling 514-328-3668.
Meanwhile, the club will organize the first free open house at Stade Saputo this Thursday, from 5 to 8pm.
Game Notes
- INJURY REPORT: OUT - D Matteo Ferrari (Right quad strain), Nelson Rivas (left knee) F Bernardo Corradi (Left knee torn ACL), Andrew Wenger (Left hamstring strain), Evan James (Left ankle sprain).
- The Montreal Impact is currently first among MLS teams with 249 fouls committed, third with 239 shots and tied for sixth with 24 goals.
- The Impact has a 3-0-1 record when the team leads at halftime.
- Sporting Kansas City has not traditionally fared well on the Fourth of July, going 2-7-2 all-time.
- Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is currently third amongst MLS goalkeepers with 79 shots against and tied for seventh with 47 saves.
- Midfielder Davy Arnaud is first in the league with 49 fouls suffered.
- Midfielder Felipe is tied for fourth in MLS with 35 fouls committed.
- Midfielders Felipe and Davy Arnaud, as well as forward Sanna Nyassi, have already been shown four yellow cards in regular season play, and will have to serve a one-game suspension following their next caution.
